Mail-bag-delivering means.



Patented May 21,1918.

WITNESSES ATTORN EYv unirnnerarn rattan oration.

NAPOLEON J. AUCLAIR, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

MAIL-BAG-DELIVERING MEANS.

\ Specification of Letters Patent. Patgn tgfl lwa y 211 1918 Application filed February s, 1918. Serial no. 216,086.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NAPOLEON J. AUoLAIn, a citizen of Canada, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag-Delivering Means, of which the following is, a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag delivering neans,,and more particularly to a device for delivering bags of mail. of that class in which the mail is delivered while the train is in motion.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated of simple construction and operation which may be produced at small cost. A further object is to provide a device which may be readily applied to a mail car of standard construction and which will deliver the bag of mail in such a way as to prevent injury thereto due to the sudden stoppage of the mail bag. Another object is to provide a device of very simple construction and operation in which the :bag to be delivered is placed upon a slidable supporting member which may be slid so as to project laterally of the car, this bag being provided with a hook which is engaged by a cable so as to move the bag from the supporting member. Further objects will appear from the de tailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail delivering means constructed in accordance with my invention as used,

vFig. 2 is a top plan view,

Fig. 3 is a section taken through the center of the means for supporting the mail ba The car A may be of any suitable standard construction and is provided with the door-way or opening B. Two U-guide members 1 are secured to the floor 0 of the car in parallel spaced relation in alinementwith the door opening B. Each guide member is provided, at its outer edge, with a lateral flange 2 by means of which it may be quickly and easily secured to the floor of the car. A substantially rectangular frame 3 is slidably mounted in the guide members 1. The forward end portion of this frame is slightly tapered or rounded as at 8 and the frame is provided at the center of its outer end with an inwardly directed V-shaped member 3 A handle 1, is secured to the inner end bar 5 of the frame so to facilitate movement of the same into and out of the guidemembers 1. The inward movement of this frame is positively limited by the downwardly directed stops or flanges 6 provided at the inner ends of members 1, and its outward movement is limited by downwardly directed fingers 7 at the outer ends of members 1 so positioned as to engage the frame 3 at the inner corners thereof. This frame carries a plate 8 secured therein and con forming in contour to the inner contour of the frame. Thisplate is adapted to support a bag 9 of mail to the outer end of which is secured a hook 10,this hook being directed downwardly through the V-shaped member 3 as in Fig. 1.

Adjacent the track is secured a post 11 which is in alinement with a post 12 which is more remote from the track and is of considerably greater height than post 11. A cable 13 has one end secured to post 11 adjacent the, upper end thereof, and its other end secured to post 12 adjacent its upper end. This cable is inclined upwardly and away from the track. When it is desired to deliver a bag of mail, the bag 9 is placed upon plate 8, and the frame 3 and plate carried thereby are then moved outwardly in -members 1 so as to project beyond the side of car A, as illustrated. With the frame 3 in extended position, the book 10 is so positioned as to be engaged by the cable 13 as the car approaches post 12, it being;

understood that the car is moving in the direction indicated. As the car moves so as to move the frame 3 from post 11 toward post 12, the side bar of this frame will first engage cable 13 which, due to the rounded contour of the outer portion of the frame, will permit the frame to slide along the cable, the frame serving to slightly tension the cable. As the car advances, cable 13 will engage into hook 1O beneath the frame thus serving to drag the bag 9 from plate 8. The bag, due to its inertia, will tend to continue traveling in the direction of the train. This inertia will be easily overcome however, by the upward inclination of the cable 13 upon which will act to check the bag sufficiently to prevent impact thereof with the post 12, this cable also serving to move the bag away from the track so as to eliminate all danger of injury thereto in the event that the bag should become in some way detached from the cable.

By this i said supporting plate conforming in; contour means, a bag of mail may be quicklylan d.

train, and all danger of injury. toathegmailp is-eliminated. This device is of extremely.

simple construction and; may be. produced at very small cost and, forthis reason, it is thought to be very practical; The supporting plate Sand frame 3 are so related to the cable '13 as, to prevent all injury to the contents of thebag, as above noted, ,and cooperate to remove the bag from the supporting device in such amanner as to avoid necessity of slowing down of the train.

What I'claim is: a

1. In mail; bag delivering means, two spaced'parallel guide members, a frame slidable. in said members and having its movement in either direction positively" limited, a supporting plate carried by said frame,

.to the interior contour of the frame, said .vframeubeing provided at the center of its outer. end with-an inwardly directed substantially V-shaped member adapted to permit a hook carried by a mail bag supported by the plate to project beneath the frame so as to;be.e ngaged by a member for removing the bag from the plate.

" 2'. In mail bagdelivering means, two spaced parallel guide members, a frame slidable therein, saidframe havinggits outer end portion rounded and provided at the center thereof. with an inwardly directed Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

* Washington, D. G. 

